Cellular & Molecular Biology Graduate Program: Outreach & Student Life

This committee meets every 2 months and votes on new faculty applications, reviews student issues, and discusses policies and changes to program events and initiatives. Students and faculty serve as representatives and communicate additional discussion items as needed, and represent a variety of departments and schools/colleges.

The CMB Admissions Committee includes around 35 faculty and several CMB students, and is in charge of reviewing applications for the Program in Biomedical Science (PIBS) admissions process. Committee members submit evaluations and play an active part in determining who will be offered interviews and ultimately, offers of admission, for the CMB program.

The CMB Access, Success and Engagement Task Force (ASE) was formed as a resource to advocate for CMB students, faculty, and staff. To fulfill the program’s mission, the CMB ASE Task Force will interact closely with all members of the CMB community, gather and disseminate information, collaboratively identify issues, and advise CMB leadership on programs, initiatives and solutions to address these issues.

This task force is chaired by typically one Rackham faculty ally, and 2 student allies, with additional student members (~8-10 total members). Events and initiatives are planned throughout the year. The responsibilities of this group include (but are not be limited to):

1. Determining the best use of funds from the Rackham Faculty Ally Grant program, which seeks to improve the following areas of the graduate student experience: climate; retention and completion; academic and professional development; career outcomes; and alumni engagement.
2. Planning or promoting success programs, career mentoring/professional development opportunities, or other initiatives in the aforementioned areas, that would provide value to CMB students and/or faculty.
3. Encouraging community-building, belonging, and a healthy climate within the program.
4. Inviting guest speakers who can provide perspectives on various career opportunities, or working with other CMB committees to ensure they invite speakers from a variety of backgrounds, organizations and topics.
5. Updating the CMB Handbook and website with resources and information for students and faculty.
6. Reviewing statements from new CMB faculty applicants, and connecting new faculty with ASE initiatives and resources.

Students pick career topics they are interested in learning more about, and arrange events on these topics. In particular, this group is responsible for hosting the annual "Career Day" in March, which includes career talks by alumni in various career areas, a Q&A panel, lunch and a networking event. Other previous career events have included one-off alumni panels, resume or job interviewing workshops, guest speakers, bringing campus representatives to present on professional development resources at CMB 850, and more.

Student meetings were started a couple years ago by CMB students, in response to a need for greater community, information sharing, and collaboration between student committees. While not technically a committee, these meetings are led by students who facilitate meetings, collaborate information with CMB administration/faculty, and communicate student discussion topics and action items back to CMB leadership.

While not technically a committee, one or two students are able to indulge their interest in photography, by taking photos at CMB events, and sharing them with CMB leadership and committees, for communication and media purposes.

CMB students typically assemble two program newsletters each year - one for Fall semester, and one for Winter/Spring. The format and content is designed almost entirely by the students, who do research and write articles to spotlight people, issues and events, and to provide the program with more information about student and faculty research and accomplishments.

Students on this committee assist with the recruitment of new PIBS students, particularly during PIBS Interview Weekends, and provide outreach before, during and after this event, to interested students who interview for PIBS, with a primary interest in CMB. This committee is instrumental in coordinating student hosts for interviewees, providing the student perspective to recruits during information sessions, and coordinating a community-building activity for students during interview weekends. Each committee member serves as a lead host during one of the recruitment weekends. These students may be called upon later for other CMB recruitment activities, such as the PIBS Second Look virtual event, traveling to a conference or university to recruit for CMB, or to help new students transition to Michigan.

These students select a keynote speaker for the Jessica Schwartz Lecture, help coordinate faculty talks, plan logistics, and coordinate community-building activities for the CMB Fall Retreat. Students may also be called upon to help at the Spring Symposium, including helping with posters, award, or poster judging, or giving input on the menu or agenda.

CMB students plan the "Short Course" seminar series every Fall Semester. Students choose a topic of interest and a faculty advisor who can present and advise on this topic. Students then invite guest speakers who are experts in this area. Each student coordinates the itinerary for one of the guest speakers, and has a chance to network with them and facilitate discussion with the speaker and students in the course.

This committee is in charge of planning social/community-building events for the CMB program, including the Welcome Week Picnic and December Holiday Party, program Happy Hours, and other activities of interest to students. Previous social events include Whirlyball, bowling, ice skating, etc.

Each summer, students meet weekly to discuss a theme or topic of interest. Students choose the topic, coordinate the reading and discussion, and invite faculty or speakers, if desired.